M
Highly recommend hiring Hasan
Hasan was very knowledgeable. This was a fun tour! He had all kinds of trivia and facts regarding the Basilica Cistern
Operator response
Thanks for your kind review , it was my pleasure :)
Private Guided Basilica Cistern Tour with Skip the Line Access
+2 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Price from
- $136 / person
- Location
- Istanbul, Türkiye
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 40 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Private
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Istanbul Old City tour
- Meeting point
- Go across the exit of Basilica Cistern, an old wooden house, and look for a guide with a HASAN ALICI named guiding batch.
Description
I want to pass on my knowledge and passion to my guests, ensuring +25 year of experience and offer a tour in safety and comfort; with friendly personal touches. We will visit the Basilica Cistern. Avoid the lengthy queues and explore the largest ancient water cistern housing two Medusa heads. Enhance your understanding of this cathedral-sized cistern by joining a guided tour conducted in English. Be captivated by the submerged palace and uncover an expansive man-made freshwater lake equivalent in size to two football fields. Experience elements of the cistern that played a prominent role in beloved James Bond film and Dan Brown movie. I will arrange the tour according to all guest’s needs and interests and use their time as efficient as possible. I will be designing program itineraries according to highlights and not waiting the ques, skiping the lines.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 9 times a day, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Next available
- Wed, Oct 14
- Adult (ages 17–64)
- $136
- Senior (ages 65+)
- $136
- Youth (ages 6–16)
- $136
- Child (ages 2–5)
- Free
- Infant (ages 0–1)
- Free
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Basilica Cistern
Explore the striking must-see place Basilica Cistern during your visit to Istanbul. Journey beneath the earth's surface and admire the distinctive architecture while listening to your guide who will give you insights into the history of this place. Medusa heads' mythology, movies made in here, Istanbul's water infrastructure history with aqueducts. The included admission fee is :The Entry ticket is 800 TL /per person( approx. 23 EUR, 25.00 USD) over 6 year old is charged.
What's included
Included
Skip-the-line entry to the Basilica Cistern
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
40 reviews
How it compares in Istanbul
- Rated higher than 80% of 987 reviewed tours in Istanbul
Excurgo comparison of 3,635 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended for travelers with claustrophobia, and can be quite high humid
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Private Guided Basilica Cistern Tour with Skip the Line Access lasts about 1 hour. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $136 per person for this Istanbul experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does this tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 9 departures a day between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
How much does this tour cost for children?
Children aged 2–5 pay nothing, adults from $136. Infants go free.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Go across the exit of Basilica Cistern, an old wooden house, and look for a guide with a HASAN ALICI named guiding batch. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is this tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 40 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Istanbul Old City tour.
Reviews(40)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
M
Highly recommended
Hasan is extremely knowledgeable and a great story-teller. I would recommend him for a private tour. It’s so nice to converse and to be able to ask questions.
Operator response
Thanks for your kind review ! regards
A
Top guide
Hidden gem, did a great job explaining and sharing the cistern histories. Professional and pleasant.
Operator response
Thanks for your kind review !
R
Hasan was incredible...
Hasan was incredibly knowledgeable about the cisterns and delivered a wonderful and complete experience. The location is fascinating and he did it justice. He was a fantastic person and went out of his way to be helpful.
Operator response
Thanks a lot, it was my pleasure to have met you !
C
Best Cistern Tour Guide!
Hassan Review We had three different guides for touring Istanbul. Hassan was far and away the best. He provided great historic information about Basilica Cistern, as well as impressive details about the design and construction of the site. He had a knack for finding great photo ops and was also quite charming. We highly recommend him!
Operator response
Thanks for your kind review Catherine, it was my pleasure to have met you also!
I
Lots of history !
Great tour of Hagia Sophia !!! Lots of history and attention to details ! We had a great time! Thank you Hasan! Best tour guide !
Operator response
Thanks for your kind review, it was my pleasure to have met you also :)
C
Wonderful! Thanks
Absolutely fantastic, skip the line was also great! Learnt alot from our guide, Hasan. He was very informative!
Operator response
Thanks for your kind review, it was my pleasure !
C
Hasan is the best!
Hasan was brilliant. We went to the Hagia Sofia Mosque with him as our guide. He was knowledgeable, personable and made it fun, educational and interesting. Couldn’t recommend him highly enough. He was simply great.
Operator response
Thanks for your kind review :)
V
Just a lot of fun.
Fantastic tour led by Hassan Alicia. Aya Sofia was built in the year 400 AD. Hassan knows an incredible amount about the history, religion and culture around the Aya Sofia. And he's got a lot of humor, too. Look him up. Highly recommended!
Operator response
Thanks Vincent for your kind review and it was my pleasure to have met you and your son, but Hagia Sophia was built in 6th Century ( 537 AD) just for the records I had given this information ;))
V
A Magical Experience Beneath the City – Hassan Made It Unforgettable!
The Basilica Cistern was one of the most mesmerizing places we visited in Istanbul, and having Hassan as our private guide made it even more incredible. His storytelling, attention to detail, and deep knowledge of the site’s history truly brought the space to life. From skipping the long lines to pointing out hidden details — like the Medusa heads and the engineering marvels of the cistern — Hassan made the entire experience seamless, informative, and engaging. You can tell he genuinely loves what he does, and it shows in the way he shares the history with passion and clarity. We can’t recommend this tour — and Hassan — highly enough. If you’re visiting Istanbul, don’t miss this!
Operator response
Thanks a lot for your kind review, it was my pleasure to have met you also
Compare similar tours in Istanbul
- Lowest price: Private Guided Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace with Skip Line — $57
- Best rated: Private Guided Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace with Skip Line — 5.0 (276 reviews)
- Shortest: Basilica Cistern Skip the Line Private Tour Best Highlights — 40 min
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Guided Basilica Cistern Tour with Skip the Line Access | 1 hour | 5.0 (40) | $136 | |
 Private Guided Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace with Skip Line | 2h 40min | 5.0 (276) | $57 | View |
 Istanbul MegaPass: Must-See Sights & Skip-the-Line Access | 365 days | 4.8 (189) | $138 | View |
 Basilica Cistern Skip the Line Private Tour Best Highlights | 40 min | 5.0 (39) | $59 | View |
 Private Guided Tour Hagia Sophia, Cistern, Topkapi with Skip Line | 4–6 hours | 5.0 (118) | $57 | View |
 Guided Hagia Sofia, Blue mosque, Basilica Cistern- Grand Bazaar | 3–4 hours | 4.9 (202) | $57 | View |
 Basilica Cistern Guided Walking Tour with Skip the Lines entry | 1h 30min | 5.0 (2) | $211 | View |
from$136
5.0(40) Free cancellation